When was the last time you thought about truckers? For most of us, it’s probably the last time we encountered them on the highway. But did you know that the trucking industry is a key aspect and leading indicator of our economy?

In fact, 71 percent of domestic goods in the United States are hauled by trucks. And the trucking industry has long been a bellwether of the overall economy. Given certain trends are likely to carry over into other industries, it’s worth keeping an eye on 2018 trucking industry trends and not just on the road, but also in the boardroom and at the bank.

Taking action to combat talent-tight market

The trucking industry is currently strong, enjoying double-digit increases in revenue. But it’s also changing, which can be an indicator of developments to come in other industries. One of the biggest challenges it’s facing is an aging workforce and a shortage of new drivers to replace retiring drivers. Currently, the biggest hindrance to trucking companies’ growth is finding and keeping qualified drivers. To combat this, trucking companies are becoming more creative in how they attract and retain workers. Many are shortening their routes to allow more time at home for their drivers – and while this can be a drag on efficiency, the more flexible approach has shown to be helpful in attracting new workers, particularly millennials. Companies are also creating pilot programs to encourage high school students to join the industry. There is also a push to encourage women to enter the industry, both as drivers and as fleet managers. Finally, companies are investing in upgrades to the trucks in their fleet to make them more comfortable to lure much-needed drivers.

Mergers and acquisitions driving loan growth

As the trucking industry adjusts to operational changes, it’s also shifted its approach to financing. There hasn’t been much of an increase in loan demand, but there’s been a spike in M&A activity, which in turn has driven loan growth. Larger companies are buying middle-market to smaller firms to expand their driver base. In addition, private equity groups have become more active in the industry as they help companies add dedicated equipment to their fleets.

Factoring in factoring

Factoring provides flexible financing that is designed to grow and change with a trucking company giving them the flexibility to meet the demands of day-to-day operations today and in the future. Factoring allows a company to leverage outstanding accounts receivable, which then provides them with a cash infusion that can be used to meet immediate needs such as payroll.

Marquette, a subsidiary of UMB Bank, n.a. located in Bloomington, Minn., is a leading provider of accounts receivable financing solutions, serving companies with annual revenue from $2 million to $400 million. Marquette assists companies in meeting their working capital needs to drive growth, fund acquisitions, improve liquidity and fund restructures. Marquette is small and nimble, which allows it to control how it manages and offers its services, yet it’s also backed by the strength of its parent company, UMB Financial Corporation, which allows the company to extend larger financing packages.When you click links marked with the “‡” symbol, you will leave UMB’s website and go to websites that are not controlled by or affiliated with UMB. We have provided these links for your convenience. However, we do not endorse or guarantee any products or services you may view on other sites. Other websites may not follow the same privacy policies and security procedures that UMB does, so please review their policies and procedures carefully.

DiAne Reed has been in the trucking industry for more than 25 years, and is active in transportation associations across the U.S. As a team member at Marquette Transportation Finance (MTF), DiAne builds relationships and individually reviews client situation to offer custom finance plans that help them grow.

2 Comments

hello DiAne Reed, my husband and I just paid to file for his own authority. we are having an issue finding a insurance company, and anyone give us a chance. we are very dedicated in making this company work. any advise on any insurance cpmpanies that will give a new business a chance?

As a good first port of call, I’d suggest visiting https://www.marquette.com/ to learn about our Transportation Finance Solutions. The contacts on this page will have contact information where you can make outreach regarding your question.

The content on these pages is for informational use and is not intended to be an offer, recommendation or advice by us regarding any banking or investment product. Please contact UMB directly to discuss any product.

Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they relate to the specific topic discussed in the post on which they are made. For more information, please see our Comment Terms and Conditions. UMB is not responsible for and does not endorse any comments by blog visitors, or the content, advertising, products, advice, opinions, recommendations or other materials on or available directly or via hyperlinks from this or any other page on WordPress or any website owned or operated by a third party. UMB is not responsible for the privacy, security, dispute resolution or terms of use policies at this site or any other third party site that may be linked to from this page or from other WordPress.com pages. Using any third party sites and materials is at your own risk

UMB is not responsible for and does not endorse any comments, content, advertising, products, advice, opinions, recommendations or other materials on or available directly or via hyperlinks from Facebook, Twitter or any third-party Web site. Your use of this site is subject to acceptance of our Terms and Conditions. Facebook is a registered trademark of Facebook, Inc. The Twitter name is a trademark of Twitter, Inc.

When you click links marked with the “‡” symbol, you will leave UMB’s Web site and go to Web sites that are not controlled by or affiliated with UMB. We have provided these links for your convenience. However, we do not endorse or guarantee any products or services you may view on other sites. Other Web sites may not follow the same privacy policies and security procedures that UMB does, so please review their policies and procedures carefully.